Man confessed to killing missing Hillsboro woman

Court records say body dumped near Hagg Lake

Eloy Vasquez-Santiago admitted killing Maria Bolanos-Rivera when first interviewed by police about the missing Hillsboro woman on Sept. 29.

According to Washington County court records, the 29-year-old man "confessed that he struck Maria and stabbed her causing her death."

Vasquez-Santiago then told police he dumped her body near Hagg Lake. Although several searches have been conducted, Bolanos-Rivera's body has not yet been recovered.

Vasquez-Santiago the fled to Mexico. He made the confession after returning fto the California border to turn himself in. Hillsboro detective traveled to San Diego and interviewed him there, then requested an arrest warrant for the crime of murder.

Bolanos-Rivera disappeared after going on a trip with Vasquez-Santiago in a van owned by his brother. After returning without Bolanos-Rivera, Vasquez-Santiago said he killed her because she was "too fastidious," the brother subsequently told police. The brother also reported seeing Vasquez-Santiago throw away a bloody knife and he saw blood in the van.

The records say Vasquez-Santiago met Bolanos-Rivera several years ago when the two worked at a Hillsboro berry packing company. Vasquez-Santiago wanted Bolanos-Rivera to live with him, but she refused to do so unless he married her, which he was not willing to do, the records say.

Vasquez-Santiago was indicted by a Washington County grand jury on one count of murder on Oct. 9. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment. A judge is scheduled to be assigned to the case on Monday.